Labia minoraplasty (labiaplasty) is the surgical removal of excess unwanted skin from your inner lips. It is important to note that in the majority of cases labiaplasty needs to be performed along with a clitoral hood reduction to achieve the desired result. It is a procedure that requires skill and expertise to finesse the varying vulva anatomy that women have. Dr. Poucher has not only perfected the labial trim but, has pioneered her own trade secret technique which allows her to tailor the procedure to your specific anatomy. Labia come in many different shapes and sizes and therefore a skill set including multiple techniques is required. Our procedures are done in-office under local anesthesia.
It is important to note that 90% of women seeking labiaplasty also require a clitoral hood reduction in order to achieve their desired results. Therefore, 90% of our patients book labiaplasty and clitoral hood reduction together and Dr. Poucher takes care to perform the procedures properly together.
At our office labiaplasty is performed under local anesthesia with the option of mild sedation. A numbing cream specifically compounded for our office is applied and allowed to soak in while we prepare you for your procedure. Your skin is then cleaned and prepped and surgical markings are made. Dr. Poucher then injects the skin with long acting local anesthetic to provide full numbness. From here Dr. Poucher’s artistic skills are put to work designing and sculpting the appearance you desire. The technique she uses is specific to your anatomy;linear trim, modified wedge, or Poucher Proprietary technique. Once the excess tissue has been removed, self-absorbing sutures are precisely placed under the skin which reduces scarring and/or puckering. Following their placement, a mirror is given to you to view your immediate post-op results and your journey to recovery begins!
Your recovery begins in our office. We have thoughtfully prepared a post surgical care kit with all your essential recovery needs. Annie or Hayley will go over each item and review their proper use to maximize your results. This is given to you in a wonderful tote bag which also contains reminder instructions on their use. Once you have successfully used the bathroom and dressed you may drive yourself home (only if you have not chosen the mild sedation option). Once home, you may take prescription pain medication if needed. 50% of our patients report no need for prescription medication and say simply acetaminophen or ibuprofen provided adequate relief. By the next morning over the counter pain medication is all that will be needed for pain management. Most ladies are very pleasantly surprised by the less than expected pain they encounter during recovery. 6 weeks is the typical recovery time.
What if I start my period near my procedure date?
Periods can be tricky and sometimes the best laid plans are thrown off by its untimely appearance. No worries, Dr. Poucher is a Gynecologist and a little menstrual blood does not phaseher. You will be instructed to wear a tampon during the procedure which she will carefully remove at the end and then pads will be worn until your period stops. If however, you do not use tampons, your degree of bleeding will be evaluated and your labiaplasty procedure may be rescheduled.
How much time should I take off from work or school?
This can vary a bit depending on what type of work you do but in general 2-3 days off is all that is needed.
Can I exercise following the procedure?
Please take 1 week off from exercising completely to allow your body to have a head start on healing. Most exercise can resume 7-10 days following the procedure with the exception of bicycling, horseback riding, swimming, Pilates,Yoga, motorcycle riding or wide leg squats.
Will there be any sensations changes?
Most labia have little to no sensation and therefore changes experienced by patients tend to be purely positive, No more having your labia dragged in or pinched duringintercourse. The portion of the labia that does have some sensation is the frenulum and care is taken not to disturb this area.
Will there be any limitations during my recovery?
While labiaplasty recovery is pretty simple,there are some no no’s to avoid. No soaking in water for 6 weeks. This can make the stitches dissolve too quickly. Be sure to follow the above mentions limits on exercising. No sex nortampon usage for 6 weeks.
Do you use a laser?
An Ellman surgitron is used instead of a scalpel. This allow for precise incisions and better healing.
Do the stitches have to be removed?
The suture used to close the incisions is dissolvable. No stitch removal for most!!!There is only a rare case of one or two stitches that hang on until the 6 week follow up appointment where they can be gently and easily removed.
